Airport drink curbs loom amid soaring flight rage

Bars such as this one at Gatwick could come under the same regulations as pubsALAMY

Limits on the sale of alcohol at airports are being considered after the number of air rage incidents on British flights doubled.

Ministers are proposing to close a loophole that allows airside pubs and bars to operate outside licensing laws in order to cut the number of drunken passengers causing havoc at terminals, The Times has learnt.

The Home Office is planning to extend the Licensing Act 2003 to cover alcohol being sold to passengers just before they board flights.

It would give councils the power to license and inspect airside bars, pubs and restaurants. In some cases they could restrict the timing of alcohol sales, potentially signalling the end of pre-flight breakfast pints for some passengers. In extreme cases they could shut down bars.

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